Asia

Uttar Pradesh

Young but not restless

AKHILESH YADAV is the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh (UP), India's largest state. He recently sat down with The Economist for an interview at his official residence in Lucknow. Here is an edited transcript.

Q. You’re India’s youngest chief minister. You’re known for computerising government services. Do you see yourself as a moderniser in a traditional society?

A. No, I think I’m a traditionalist but one with experience of the West and a knowledge of English. To compare Uttar Pradesh with Gujarat or Bihar [two other states with modernising chief ministers] isn’t right. UP’s a different challenge and we have to provide competition to those two states. When I arrived, the situation in government wasn’t good. I have to inspire the government and implement our policies. We’ve started to do that; we’re focused on infrastructure—on roads, power and irrigation—and on the quality of education, especially for girls. We’re trying to improve the physical infrastructure and human infrastructure.

Q. You said you could boost UP’s growth rate to 10% a year. That’s very ambitious. What do you need to do to achieve that?

A. Yes, I did say that. Growth is 6.2% now; what I told the planning commission meeting was that we could increase it to 7% next year; then 8%-9% in 2014/14; then 9%-10% in 2015/16, so in 2016/17 it will go to 10%. We think that’s possible. The internal demand generated by the state is high. When we took over, the state was knee-deep in corruption and billions of the state budget was being wasted on memorials [a reference to his predecessors’ fondness of building large public monuments]. Even then we achieved 6.2%. Imagine what will happen if we invest in infrastructure and education.

Q. Your father [Mulayam Singh Yadav, the head of the ruling Samajwadi party] said he was disappointed by the performance of the government. Are you disappointed?

A. I don’t think most people are disappointed. The government is on the right track. In five or six months, we’ve started to turn things around. It’ll take time of course. We inherited a legacy of bad power, bad transmission system, bad everything. You can’t do everything in just a few months. But we had a good session in the state assembly. We got our budget passed and now we’re starting to implement it. We’ll be distributing new unemployment benefits very soon. Then we’ll give 300,000 rupees [$5,440] to girls who pass class 12. People are waiting to see the policies implemented before they pass judgment on us.

Q. Can you explain what the role of your father is in the government?

A. He is the leader of my party, a very experienced politician [he has been chief minister of UP three times] and he has the right to give me advice. It’s a mentoring role. But I don’t call him up every time I have to make a decision and ask him what do to. I’d never have the time to do anything if I did that.

Q. Are you concerned that communal relations [ie, between Hindus and Muslims] are getting worse and that communal violence may be coming back?

A. I’m very sad and concerned about it. There are forces behind the recent upsurge in violence. You know who they are. But I don’t think the public itself is really behind the violence. I’ve given instructions to the police to be strict in maintaining law and order and we will back you up. I’m confident that we are getting a grip on the situation.

Q. Is it OK to steal a little so long as you don’t loot? [Akhilesh’s uncle, the senior minister in charge of the state’s public-works department, made headlines by offering exactly that advice to bureaucrats.]

A. These things happen everywhere and the media took advantage. It was a slip of the tongue. We absolutely cannot allow this sort of thing in our state. Corruption hampers the government, it harms the economy and it prevents social benefits getting through to the people. So we have to fight to stamp it out.

Q. You’ve been accused of chopping and changing over policies, announcing a policy one day and changing it the next. Is that a fair criticism?

A. Maybe to some extent. But there’s nothing wrong in that. You have to listen to people who are affected by your decisions. In a democracy, you need feedback. Anyway, most of the changes people talk about haven’t been policy announcements. They’ve just been proposals. If people don’t like them, then we should have the courage to take them back: that’s what democracy is. I also think it’s a sign of character not to insist blindly on wrong decisions.

Q. Are you facing resistance to the changes you want to implement from the bureaucracy and from some government ministries?

A. Any change which is gradual will be OK, so long as it is gradual. I’m implementing our manifesto, people can’t complain about that. We were elected to do it. While we stick to that I don’t think there will be any problem.

Q. Finally, I’d like to ask a question about the relationship between the centre and the states. UP was criticised recently for taking more than its fair share from the national power grid and I wondered if you thought this might be an example of authority starting to shift from the centre to the states?

A. I think relations between us and the centre are gradually getting better. It mainly depends on the central government. Nothing is set in stone. I think Congress makes a big difference. Congress is trying to build better relations with the Samajwadi party, and we are responding to that. The previous government was asked for help in building one of the most prestigious university hospitals in the state and it refused to give the land for more than four years. They approached us; we thought it was a good project for the state, so we gave them the land they wanted.

Readers' comments

Youngest Chief Minister, Mr. Akhilesh is the one who offered 22 lacs to buy cars to all MLAs.
These Politician are too clever, they do exactly what they want but show as if it was really needed.
Uttar Pradesh used to be one of the best state in our country and now comes in the last in the list of developing states in our country.
People are illiterate, they don't have internet facility, Power cut, education problem, social backwardness , narrow mindedness etc etc..
there are so many problems in the states.
Kanpur one of the main city of this state and it does not have any road which is good enough to ride Audi or Mercedes.
Some other cities Gorakhpur, Allahabad which have surpassed all the limit of social backwardness.
Except one city Lucknow, all have not developed so much as they should post independence in comparison to other state city.
These politician are playing only one game , 'BLAME-GAME'.
Sugar Industry, Fertilizer Industry that used to be major contributor in State economy are in degraded situation.
Many Factories in Gorakhpur, Kanpur are closed that used to be only earning source of thousands people

They all talk very sweet and true to make it look they are there for the welfare of people and everything done is transparent. Sadly, the reality is that they all are corrupt, their policies are ambiguous and they all are there to look after their own friends and families....
A puppet in his father and uncle's hands, it would surprise everyone if Akhilesh actually does something which can be written about. I have my doubts!

This is the same guy who offered a loan of 2 million to each Legislative assembly member to buy cars for themselves, note that the money planned to loan is taken from fund which is usually used for development of the constituency.

My best wishes to our young and dynamic Chief Minister Akhilesh. Like Modi , he has the guts to take Uttar Pradesh to newer heights just like Gujarat. I Wish he is able to set his house in order with able Ministers and astute administrators and managers. He has to focus on a long term Governance of at least five elections with all the youth and energy behind him. He has the tenacity and grit to improve the power situation emulating Gujarats example.He can develop garland canal and river irrigation pattern with rain water preservation.Rural/urban integration to stop rural migration into urban , has to come up with renewable non grid electricity , drinking water , employment and education development, schools and hospitals.The Government has to find suitable homes and dwellings for stray animals protection to get rid of street dogs and stray cattle from the state by bringing laws and allocation of resource. Imposition of strict penalty for small violations like jumping traffic, throwing garbages on the road, spitting in public places, urinating anywhere etc.to bring in all round discipline. The government has to Build enough Toilets and public conveniences on every street, localities and the countryside in order to facilitate poor and the ladies so that they need not use public places.It's high time to Deal with criminals the way Behenji did, without protection to any section who commit crime. Also police departments needs equipping with IT and computers so that it can provide an efficient service. Build world class roads just like Modi has done in Gujarat, and Provide employment opportunities so that the number of unemployed comes down.Set up small, medium and big super specialty government hospitals where world class treatment can be given at affordable rates and castles card systems. Throw the anti social elements in prison without any trail so that the ordinary man can lead a peaceful life. Implement Lokpal like strong measures to curb corruption, and rapid Corruption Prevention and Grievance Redressal Forums to look into economic and grassroots level common complaints of dowry, bride burning, etc at villages and tehsil levels are the new experiments to curb social ills. In short its time now to make people realise the value of keeping their neighbourhood clean from garbages, free from theft and crime with social policing. If people love their surroundings as their pride , our state can become one of the best in the country.Akhilesh is the only person who can get all these things done.This could be just the beginning with so much to be done provided his uncles and colleagues have the resolve to do for the state.We can then see no beggars and destitutes and the homeless people living with the rubbish.For all this to happen, Akhilesh has to be tough like Sanjay Gandhi used to be.

Truly said, we can’t compare Uttar Pradesh with Bihar or Gujarat, we are talking about a population of 20 Crore plus, that’s almost like the fifth biggest country of the world. The population of U.P. is more than the population of Pakistan ( as a Country) thus the challenge is too high. The state had been mis governed for decades. Ill fate had been a government which is most of times not in Centre. When it’s about U.P Akhilesh has a herculean task in front of him.

1. Employment and Education
2.Bringing the state out of Cast politics
3.Keeping the states safe from the other non secular political groups who will always try to fuel some or the other religious trouble.
4.Bringing industries and investment to the state.
5.Controlling the Violence and corruption at ground level.
6.Development of physical Infrastructure.
7.Public Health

Though it sounds too optimistic to grow from 6% to 10% but it’s not impossible as well. When TCS and Sahara have opened up centre in Lucknow. There is potential. We just need to make so 10 NOIDA, and 10 DADRI and Shahibabads in UP and the states comes on the track.

Youngest Chief Minister, Mr. Akhilesh is the one who offered 22 lacs ian to buy cars to all MLAs.
These Politician are too clever, they do exactly what they want but show as if it was really needed.
Uttar Pradesh used to be one of the best state in our country and now comes in the last in the list of developing states in our country.
People are illiterate, they don't have internet facility, Power cut, education problem, social backwardness , narrow mindedness etc etc..
there are so many problems in the states.
Kanpur one of the main city of this state and it does not have any road which is good enough to ride Audi or Mercedes.
Some other city Gorakhpur, Allahabad which have surpassed all the limit of social backwardness.
Except one city Lucknow, all have not developed so much as they used to be comparably to other state city after independence.
These politician are playing only one game , BLAME-GAME.
Sugar Industry, Fertilizer Industry that used to be major contributor in State economy are in degraded situation.